Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night at TD Garden, suffering a tough 111-101 defeat. Both teams entered the contest as the second seeds in their respective conferences, setting the stage for an intense NBA battle. While Boston’s Jayson Tatum delivered a dominant performance, Luka Doncic and Lebron James impressive night couldn’t lift the Lakers to victory.
The night took a concerning turn for the Lakers when LeBron James exited the game in the fourth quarter due to a groin injury. After the game, James addressed the media regarding his condition.
“In my mind, it immediately went back to my groin injury on Christmas Day 2018 when I felt a pop and missed significant time,” James said. “I don’t believe this injury is as bad as that one. I’m going to take this thing day by day.” James also expressed hope to return before the team concludes its road trip. After his comments, James lightly knocked on the wooden locker behind him, seemingly to avoid jinxing his recovery.
According to ESPN sources, it’s still too early to project a precise timeline for James’ return. However, initial reports suggest he could miss weeks rather than just a few days.
Doncic makes history despite Lakers’ loss
Despite the loss, Luka Doncic etched his name into Lakers history, becoming the franchise’s first player since 1958 to score the most points in his debut against Boston. Doncic finished with 34 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. LeBron James added 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists in the effort.
Boston dominates first half
The Lakers kept pace early, finishing the first quarter tied at 33-33. Their starting five — Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, and Jordan Goodwin — marked a notable shift from last year’s lineup, showcasing the extensive roster changes made during the offseason.
The Lakers briefly led by eight points before Boston responded with a strong push. Tatum led the Celtics’ charge with 13 points in the opening quarter, while Jaylen Brown added 10. On the Lakers’ side, Finney-Smith stood out with eight points, and LeBron contributed six points alongside five assists.
Boston seized control before halftime, closing the second quarter with an emphatic dunk from Tatum, who finished the half with 22 points. The Celtics led 58-54 at the break.
Celtics extend lead as Lakers struggle in third
The Celtics started the second half strong, opening the third quarter with a 10-2 run. The Lakers endured a brutal stretch, missing their first nine shot attempts — six of which were from beyond the arc. This scoring drought allowed Boston to extend their lead to 19 points. The Lakers managed just 13 points in the entire third quarter, putting them in a deep hole.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers showed resilience, cutting Boston’s lead from 22 points down to just nine. However, the Celtics maintained control in the final minutes to secure the NBA victory. Notably, LeBron James left the game midway through the fourth quarter after sustaining his groin injury, heading straight to the locker room. In the end, Boston’s solid execution proved too much for the shorthanded Lakers, who now await further updates on James’ condition.